In Brief | Nation and World July 2

TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is set to play tonight in his first minor league game on a rehabilitation assignment. And this time, all sides agree he’s ready to go.

Rodriguez said he felt fine and was eager to get on the field for Class A Charleston.

“Awesome,” he said Monday at the Yankees’ spring training complex. “I’m really excited.”

Rodriguez said he didn’t have a timetable for rejoining the Yankees, a team in desperate need of hitters. He was on a conference call with team officials earlier in the day.

“I have no idea,” he said.

Ethiopia stripped of win in World Cup qualifying

JOHANNESBURG — Ethiopia had three points taken away by FIFA on Monday in World Cup qualifying for fielding an ineligible player in a game against Botswana.

FIFA said Ethiopia forfeited its 2-1 win in Botswana on June 8 because Minyahile Beyene played in that game when he was suspended for receiving two yellow cards in earlier qualifiers. FIFA has awarded the match to Botswana 3-0.

The sanction means Ethiopia is only two points ahead of South Africa and three ahead of Botswana. Ethiopia is not guaranteed a place in Africa’s final playoffs for the World Cup going into the final round of Group A games in September.

Sudan and Gabon have already forfeited games in the World Cup qualifying competition for ineligible players.

CARSON, Calif. — U.S. national team captain Carlos Bocanegra has signed with Chivas USA of MLS.

The center back who spent last season with Racing Santander of Spain, where he was on loan from Scottish side Rangers FC, will join Chivas USA in Philadelphia to prepare for a July 12 match against the Union. He becomes eligible to play for Chivas USA on July 9 when the international transfer window opens.

Chivas USA traded a first-round draft pick in 2014 and an international roster spot to Toronto FC, which owned the first shot at acquiring Bocanegra.

Bocanegra has played 116 games for the United States, including World Cups in 2006 and 2010. He began his professional career with the Chicago Fire and was 2000 MLS Rookie of the Year.

FIFA says tear gas could stop World Cup matches

RIO DE JANEIRO — World Cup matches in Brazil next year will be stopped if tear gas from protests outside stadiums affects players.

The Confederations Cup, which serves as a test event for the 2014 World Cup, witnessed clashes between anti-government protesters and police outside some stadiums.

FIFA won’t tell the security officials to avoid a repeat of scenes where police were using rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas close to stadiums.

Tear gas wafted into some Confederations Cup games, with reports that members of the Brazil team were affected during its 3-0 victory over Spain in Sunday’s final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Man to be sent to Mass. in Hernandez murder case

BOSTON — A man arrested in Florida agreed Monday to return to Massachusetts to face a charge in the murder case against former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez.

Ernest Wallace, 41, faces a charge of accessory after the fact in the slaying of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. Wallace turned himself in at a Miramar, Fla., police station last week.

An assistant to Broward County Judge John Hurley said Wallace waived extradition Monday and agreed to go back to Massachusetts.

In a statement, prosecutors in Bristol County, Mass., said they have 10 days to pick him up. They gave no indication when they would do so.